The roof of an under-construction five-story cement factory collapsed in Mongla of Bagerhat district on Thursday, killing at least six workers and trapping fifty others.Of the dead, two were identified as Mohammad Amir and Maruf Sheikh. Others identity could not be ascertained immediately. The factory owned by Army Welfare Organization [Sena Kalyan Sangstha] was collapsed at around 1:00pm with a big bang.On information, members of Army, Navy, Coast-guard and firefighting units from Bagerhat and Mongla reached the spot and started the rescue operation.Nizamul Haque Mollah, Superintendent of Police in Bagerhat, told The New Nation over phone: “The rescuers have recovered six bodies from under the debris till 7:30 pm. We fear several people are trapped there. The rescue operation will continue uninterrupted.””It is not possible to say the reason behind the collapse without thorough investigation. However, the police will file a case in this regard and responsible persons will be brought to the book,” the SP said. Meanwhile, the fire officials feared about 40 persons were still trapped under the debris. “About 150 workers were on duty when the building collapsed. More than 40 workers are feared trapped under the debris of the collapsed building,” Mizanur Rahman, Deputy Director of Fire Service and Civil Defence [FSCD], said. He said, “At least 55 people were rescued alive from under the debris. Many of the survivors were however received injuries. Of them, 27 were admitted to the Khulna Medical College and Hospital in critical condition while others were admitted to Mongla Health Complex. A critically injured Shihab has been sent to Dhaka.”Medical Officer Dr Prokash of Mongla Port Hospital said, “Five have been undergoing treatment in our hospital while some have left the hospital after primary treatment.”Police said, the bodies of the construction workers were taken to the Mongla Port Hospital Morgue for autopsy.Deputy General Manager of Sena Kalyan Sangstha in Mongla, Maksudul Karim, said the contract for the construction of the building was awarded to the China National Building Material [CNBM] Company Limited.He said, “The ITCL, a construction company, was carrying on the roof moulding of the building as a local agent of the contracting company.”After visiting the spot, Coast-guard Mongla Commander Captain Kazi Mehdi Masud said the roof might have collapsed due to faults in the construction.
